Stencil machine table alignment construction



March 13, 1962 H. w. HEMPEL 3,024,725

STENCIL MACHINE TABLE ALIGNMENT CONSTRUCTION Original Filed July 5, 19558) WM uufW rroems Vs United States Fatent U 3,024,725 STENCIL MACHINETABLE ALIGNMENT CONSTRUCTION Herbert W. Hernpel, Eelleville, Ill.,assignor to Marsh Stencil Machine Company, Belleville, 111., a commation of Illinois Original application July 5, 1955, Ser. No. 519,911,new Patent No. 2,904,155, dated Sept. 15, 1959. Divided and thisapplication June 4, 1959, Ser. No. 818,042 2 Claims. (Cl. 101-407) Thepresent invention relates generally to stencil machines, and moreparticularly to a novel stencil machine table construction.

The present application is a division of applicants earlier filedapplication Serial No. 519,911, filed July 5, 1955, and issued as UnitedStates Patent No. 2,904,155.

In the many years stencil machines have been in use, variousconstructions have been provided for aligning a stencil board before thestencil cutting operation. Those in present use include a heavy carriageto which the stencil board is clamped prior to its manipulation intocutting position. Also in use are surface lines on the table along whichthe outer edge of the stencil board is visually aligned. However, theseand other known constructions are unsatisfactory for many obviousreasons; hence, for many years there has existed a need for a simple,positive alignment construction for stencil machine tables.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a novelstencil table alignment construction which satisfies the long existingneed.

In brief, an exemplification of the present novel stencil machine tablealignment construction comprises spaced longitudinal grooves in thetable, the inner side of which is lower than the outer side, therebyproviding, in effect, a saw-tooth pattern in transverse cross section.

Another object is to provide a novel stencil machine table alignmentconstruction which incorporates means for positively aligning a stencilboard.

Another object is to provide a novel stencil machine table alignmentconstruction by which stencil boards may be aligned by touch.

Another object is to provide a novel stencil machine table alignmentconstruction by which stencil boards may be quickly and accuratelyaligned.

Another object is to provide a novel stencil machine table alignmentconstruction which may be used by the stencil machine operator withminimum prior instruction, which has no moving parts, which is formed tolast for the life of the stencil machine, and is otherwise adapted tofulfill the objects and advantages sought therefor.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages are apparent from thefollowing description taken with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FiGURE 1 is a diagrammatic view of a portion of a stencil machine havinga table incorporating the teachings of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged plan view of the stencil machine table of FIGURE1 detached from the stencil machine for purposes of illustration;

FIGURE 3 is a further enlarged fragmentary crosssectional view onsubstantially the line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a further enlarged fragmentary crosssectional View onsubstantially the line 44 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIGURE 3 of a modifiedconstruction.

Referring to the drawing more particularly by reference numerals, 10indicates a stencil machine table having a platform 12 which includes anembodiment of the present invention. Parallel longitudinal grooves 14are formed in the platform 12 each of which is defined by an outer wall16 and an inner wall 18.

The outer wall 16 of each groove 14 has an upper edge 20 which is atsubstantially the level of the platform 12. The inner wall 18 of eachgroove 14 has an upper edge 22 which is at an elevation below the edge20, in one preferred construction, the former being about onethirtysecond of an inch below the latter. Platform segments 23 betweenthe grooves 14 slope evenly forwardly from the upper edges 20 to theupper edges 22, as is clear from FEGURE 3.

As illustrated, the grooves 14 extend from one edge of the platform 12to a transverse groove 24. This arrangement may be modified to carry thegrooves 14 fully across the platform 12, if desired, or otherarrangements may be used. The transverse groove 24 is conventional andis used as a starting guide for the left end of the stencil board.

In FIGURE 5 is a modified form of the present invention. Ridges 26 areprovided in place of the grooves 14, which may be cast with the platform12', as illustrated, or may be in the form of attached parallel strips.The platform 12 is at a uniform level throughout.

In FIGURE 1, the table 10 is shown secured to and forming a part of astencil machine 30. A stencil board 32 is aligned by a groove 14 andready for stencil cutting.

In use, as is manifest from the foregoing it is a simple matter to alignthe outer edge of a stencil board 32 with a selected groove 14 by touch,thereby obviating visual alignment which is seldom accurate unless careis taken The stencil board 32 is sufficiently flexible to permit theouter edge to be slightly deflected downward so that it will edge anouter wall 16, or a ridge 26 outwardly of the first one, as a guidestop. The conventional stencil ma chine feed rollers 34 are engaged withthe stencil board 32 in the usual manner of operating a stencil machine30 while it is thus initially aligned.

It is apparent that there has been provided a stencil machine tablealignment construction which fulfills the objects and advantages soughttherefor.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and theaccompanying drawing have been given by way of illustration and example.It is also to be understood that changes in form of the elements,rearrangement of parts, and substitution of equivalent elements, whichwill be obvious to those skilled in the art, are contemplated as withinthe scope of the present invention which is limited only by the claimswhich follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a stencil machine table including a horizontalstencil board supporting platform, and fixed stencil board aligningmeans on the platform, said align ing means comprising a plurality ofdeformations formed in the upper surface of the platform and extendingup wardly therefrom in spaced parallel array, each of said deformationsdefining an upright wall surface for slidable guiding abutment with anedge of a stencil board, and. planar platform surface segments extendingcontinuously between said deformations for flush abutment with said 3stencil board adjacent the guided edge thereof, said planar platformsurface segments being in a common plane.

2. In combination, a stencil machine table including a platform having ahorizontal upper surface, and a plural ity of stop edges extendinglongitudinally along said plat' form in the direction of movement of astencil board adapted to guidingly receive the outer edge of a stencilboard, said stop edges comprising integral ridges in surmountingrelation to said platform surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS AshleyApr. 4, 1876 Bradley Oct. 25, 1898 Chatterton Jun. 12, 1945 Paley Dec.2, 1952

